Self-lowering mechanism

ABSTRACT

A reel of flexible wire, or the like, is rotatably mounted on a reel within a housing strapped to the body. A hand-operated lever is pivoted to a fixed shaft and is indexed into and out of engagement with a shoulder stop on the reel for controlling the rate of descent of the wearer when the wire end is secured to a fixed object. The device is useful as a portable fire escape mechanism or the like.

United States Patent 1,539,713? 571970 Bauer 1,631,279 6/1927 Mandy Primary Examiner- Harvey C. l-lomsby Assistant Examiner-Merle F. Mafiei Attorney- Morse, Altman & Oates ABSTRACT: A reel of flexible wire, or the like, is rotatably mounted on a reel within a housing strapped to the body. A hand-operated lever is pivoted to a fixed shaft and is indexed into and out of engagement with a shoulder stop on the reel for controlling the rate of descent of the wearer when the wire end is secured to a fixed object. The device is useful as a portable fire escape mechanism or the like.

I INVENTOR v ANTON STANGL ATTORNEYS SELF-LOWERING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to mechanisms for lowering personnel by means of a line and more particularly directed towards a new and improved compact apparatus worn on the person for lowering himself at a selected rate of descent from an elevated position.

2. Description of the Prior Art In my US. Pat, No. 3,420,503 dated Jan. 7, I969, there is disclosed a device for making a controlled descent, comprised of a reel for a length of line mounted within a housing and operated by means of a crank-operated clutch arrangement for controlling the rate of descent. The present invention has for one of its object improvements in the construction and operation of devices of this sort and more particularly is directed towards providing a self-lowering mechanism having a positive stop action for preventing an uncontrollable release of the line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention features a device for use in making a descent from an elevated position, comprised of a housing strapped to the body with a reel of wire cord or the like having a free end extending out through the housing for attachment to a fixed object such as a window ledge or the like. A fixed shaft extends through the housing coaxial with the reel and extends out through the front of the housing. A lever arm is pivoted to the end of the shaft and is provided with a pair of working surfaces adapted to be rocked into and out of alternating engagement with a shoulder stop formed on the reel. Pivoting of the arm will cause the reel to be indexed so as to pay out lengths of cord incrementally at a rate determined by the speed at which the lever arm is operated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a device made according to the invention and shown in typical use;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the device on an enlarged scale, and;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view in side elevation thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings there is shown a self-lowering mechanism generally indicated by the reference character and used by a person for the purpose of lowering himself from an elevated position as, for example, from a hotel window in the event of a fire. The device 10 is strapped around the persons chest by means of a harness 12 and a length of line 14, preferably a strong braided wire, for example, is secured at its free end to a fixed abutment by means ofa ring 16, hook, or other attachment. The wire is normally wound about a reel 18 rotatably mounted in a housing 20 and the wire is fed out of the housing through an aperture 22 at a rate controlled by means of lever arm 24 operated by the wearer.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3 the device will be described in detail. In general, the mechanism is organized about the housing 20 which is comprised of a cylindrical main housing 26 having a rear wall 28 and surrounding sidewalls 30. The main housing 26 is provided with a bracket 32 on the backwall thereof to engage the harness 12 passing therethrough. Typically the harness is provided with an adjustment buckle by which it can be readily strapped to the body and adjusted to different sizes. In practice, the harness serves to strap the unit around the chest of the wearer with the lever arm to the front where it may be readily operated.

Extending centrally from the rear wall 28 of the main housing 26 is a rigid shaft 34 about which the reel 18 is coaxially and rotatably mounted. The outer end of the shaft 34 is bifurcated and engages the lever arm 24 by means of a pivot pin 36 passing through the bifurcated end of the shaft and the inner end of the arm. The arm 24 preferably is formed in the L- shaped configuration shown for ease of operation and at least at its inner end where it joins the shaft the arm should be flattened. The working end should be somewhat angular to permit a rocking action of the arm to and away from the person wearing the device. The inner pivoted end of the arm is formed with two working faces 38 and 40 which are moved alternately from one operating position to another by rocking the arm. The faces 38 and 40 are moved to and away from the outer annular face of a hub 42 formed integral with the reel 18 and extending through a central opening formed in the front wall of the housing 20. The hub 42 is also formed with a shoulder stop 44 projecting axially outwards thereof in position to engage the side of the lever arm adjacent a working face.

The working faces are at an obtuse angle to one another to permit the shoulder stop 44 to clear one face. such as 38 in FIG. 3 for half a turn when the other face 40 is hard against the outer end of the hub. As illustrated, the weight of the person wearing the device with the line 14 secured to a fixed object will cause the reel to unwind one-half turn, it being understood that the stop 44 will clear the face 38 and will spin around to strike the lever arm 24 adjacent the face 40. This will stop the descent which may be continued by biasing the lever am 24 inwardly towards the wearer so as to permit the stop 44 to now clear the face 40 and with the face 38 hard against the hub the stop 44 will then come against the side adjacent the face 38 again stopping the descent. By rocking the arm 24 back and forth the wearer may thus control his rate of descent and since the lever arm has only two operating positions which will function only when completely in position there is no risk of an uncontrolled descent even if the wearer were to release the lever arm 24.

To reduce friction between the housing and the cord during release, small rollers 46 may be mounted in the housing on either side of the aperture 22.

The cord may be rewound on the reel by disconnecting the lever arm from the shaft and manually turning the reel by means of the shoulder stop 44.

Having thus described the invention what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A self-lowering device, comprising,

a. a housing,

b. harness means connected to said housing for attaching said housing to a person,

c. a fixed shaft mounted to said housing and extending through a wall thereof,

d. a reel rotatably mounted about said shaft and within said housing,

e. a length of line wound about said reel and passing out through said housing,

f. said reel being formed with a hub extending out through said wall, I

g. a shoulder stop formed on the outer portion of said hub,

and,

h. a manually operated lever arm pivoted to the end of said shaft about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said reel, and formed with a plurality of angularly spaced abutments in position to be moved by said person into and out of the path of travel of said shoulder, said lever in one position stopping said reel against rotating and in another position permitting said reel to rotate less than a full cycle,

i. the working end of said lever being formed with two flat reel-engaging faces disposed at an oblique angle to one another to limit the angle of oscillation of said lever whereby one abutment will clear said stop and the other will be in the path thereof.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said housing is formed with an aperture through which said line passes and at least one roller is mounted at the edge of said aperture for reducing friction between said line and said housing.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said arm is formed with a right-angular bend along the length thereof. 

1. A self-lowering device, comprising, a. a housing, b. harness means connected to said housing for attaching said housing to a person, c. a fixed shaft mounted to said housing and extending through a wall thereof, d. a reel rotatably mounted about said shaft and within said housing, e. a length of line wound about said reel and passing out through said housing, f. said reel being formed with a hub extending out through said wall, g. a shoulder stop formed on the outer portion of said hub, and, h. a manually operated lever arm pivoted to the end of said shaft about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said reel, and formed with a plurality of angularly spaced abutments in position to be moved by said person into and out of the path of travel of said shoulder, said lever in one position stopping said reel against rotating and in another position permitting said reel to rotate less than a full cycle, i. the working end of said lever being formed with two flaT reel-engaging faces disposed at an oblique angle to one another to limit the angle of oscillation of said lever whereby one abutment will clear said stop and the other will be in the path thereof.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said housing is formed with an aperture through which said line passes and at least one roller is mounted at the edge of said aperture for reducing friction between said line and said housing.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said arm is formed with a right-angular bend along the length thereof. 